SECRET
23 August, 1968
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I enclose a copy of a memorandum by Donald Hopson on Sino-fritis. Relations: The Prospects. James Murray is sending a further copy, on a personal basis to Arthur Maddocks. The emorandum is dated 29 July, 1.e. before llopson left reking.
You may already be aware of the existence of this document. is contents will probably be familiar to you as a result of your recent discussions with llopson: they are in any case fully consistent with the views he has put forward in the triangular
exchanges of telegrams between us. I must confess that we for our part still frankly feel doubt about the validity, on present evidence, of his main thesis (i.e. that the Chinese are genuinely seeking some way of geting off the hook),
It will, of course, be necessary to submit this exposition of llopson's views to Ministers, and we intend to do this after
we have held detailed discussions with him in the second week
of September. We are familiar with your views as expressed in 670) recent exchanges (notably your telegram No. 884 of 12 July), but if there are any comments you felt like letting us have, that would clearly be ost helpful and we should be most grate- ful to have them.
(A.. Galsworthy)
His Excellency Sir David Trench, KCMG, MC,
HONG KONG,
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